New Durham session ends on somber note Town historian Eloise Bickford has died

Thursday

Mar 14, 2013 at 3:15 AMMar 14, 2013 at 5:51 AM

By Rod Dohertyrdoherty@fosters.com

NEW DURHAM — It was the last announcement of the 2013 Town Meeting that brought out the most emotion among the nearly 100 residents in attendance.

Retiring Selectman Dave Bickford took the podium to announce his mother, Eloise Bickford, one the town's eldest and most respected citizens, died Wednesday morning of health complications related to Alzheimer's disease.

Moderator Cecile Chase followed the announcement by requesting a moment of silence in memory of Mrs. Bickford. She reminded those in attendance to have appreciation and give thanks for the all the work so many such as Eloise Bickford have done to enhance the quality of life in a town such as New Durham.

The meeting, a little more than two hours long, ended with all but two of the 16 articles passing.

Articles 1 and 2 were decided Tuesday in town elections granting the Planning Board authority to assign a person to help with occupancy permits and agree guest houses and bunk houses would include a definition of not having a cooking stove or any utilities to power a cooking stove.

As expected, it was Article 4 that drew the most debate.

After a half-hour debate the article was defeated 54-43 by a hand vote. Article 4 had asked to take $175,000 from what is called the unassigned fund balance to offset the 2013 tax rate. The back and forth debate followed the line of those who felt anything that would reduce the tax rate, even if totaling less than $10 over the course of a year, was a good thing. Those against the article felt the small tax reduction was short-sighted compared to putting the money in the reserve fund to increase flexibility with future expenses or emergency spending needs.

Article 15 also failed. It was intended to allow the Board of Selectmen to acquire or sell land, buildings, or both; provided that the board would submit any such proposed acquisition to the Planning Board and Conservation Commission for review and recommendation. By a majority voice vote residents agreed this was not necessary.

Except for a debate over whether to continue to fund money for the original Town Meeting House, ultimately agreed to, the remaining articles were passed quickly.

■ Article 5: To raise and appropriate $148,000 to purchase a loader and authorize the withdrawal of $148,000 from the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund created for this purpose.

■ Article 6: To raise and appropriate $25,000 to purchase a new pickup truck for the Highway Department, and authorize the withdrawal of $25,000 from the Highway Truck Capital Reserve Fund.

■ Article 7 requested monies to fight milfoil in the local waterways.

■ Article 8: To raise and appropriate $245,874 for the Road Surface Management System for 2013. This sum is to be partially offset by Highway Block Grant Aid, with $54,000 to come from the unassigned fund balance and the remainder to come from taxation.

■ Article 9: To raise and appropriate $16,500 for the purchase and installation of a baler at the Transfer Station, approve the withdrawal of $8,000 from the Solid Waste Equipment Capital Reserve Fund and with the remaining $8,500 coming from the unassigned fund balance.

■ Article 10: To raise and appropriate $18,400 for the purchase and installation of a Quonset hut at the Transfer Station and approve the withdrawal of $18,400 from the Solid Waste Facilities Improvement Capital Reserve Fund.

■ Articles 11 and 12 to place $294,500 in Capital Reserve Funds and $76,000 in Expendable Trust Funds, respectively.

■ Article 13: To require that all budget items and warrant articles shall list the recorded votes of the Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee, as appropriate, and the numerical tally of any such vote shall be printed in the town warrant next to the affected warrant article.

■ Article 14: To require the annual budget and all warrant articles having a tax impact, as determined by the governing body, shall contain a notation stating the estimated tax impact of the article which shall be printed in the town warrant next to the affected warrant article.